Spike was standing in front of the library door. His body was throbbing and barely had enough strength to hold him up. He woke in the park a while ago. Not wanting anyone to see him with all the dried blood on him, he dragged himself to his home. His night was draining to say the least. He got stood up, saw the mare he loved and wanted for most of his life with some stallion. To top it all off, wings exploded out of his back. Thinking about it for a second the wings weren’t all bad, just when and how he got them. After a few more seconds of thinking over last night Spike noticed he was now leaning against the door. He was at his limit. He needed to rest.
It was early so he was sure Twilight hadn’t returned from Fluttershy’s just yet, which meant he didn’t have to answer questions that would just throw salt in his wounds. Reaching into his messenger bag, he grabbed his house key and unlocked the door. Stepping inside he was annoyed to see an orange mare with a blond mane stretched across the couch in the reading area.
“Are you serious?” is all he could think. Why was Applejack here? The girls were having a sleepover weren’t they. Looking around he spotted Pinkie Pie on the floor in her bright pink sleeping bag. Fluttershy was curled up on the other end of the couch with a navy blue blanket on her. Twilight must be in her room and Rainbow Dash is known to get up early for her work outs.
He tiptoed to the steps. Ignoring the sharp pains throughout his body he climbed until he reached the top, where he had to rest. Most ponies would have collapsed by now. But he was a dragon. One with a lot more than a little pain on his mind. Dragging his body down the hall he made it to his room. Grabbing the bronze handle he pushed the door open, slide inside and gently closed it behind him.
“Finally.” Spike sighed as he turned towards his bed. He wanted nothing more than to sleep. No Rarity. No love. No heartache. Just sleep. That blissful realm of dreams.
“Spike the Dragon!!! Where have you been—OH MY CELESTIA WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU?!”
Well then. She wasn’t in her room. She was waiting in mine so I can be scolded.
“All of this blood. Where were you? What happened? We need to get you to a hospital. NOW!” Twilight was at Spikes side in a heartbeat.
“I’m fine Twi. Just need some rest.” Spike knew what he said was a lie but he didn’t want any more attention. Being awake was a burden right now. A burden he simply didn’t want to deal with.
“You are not ok!! Your covered in blood and—WINGS!?!? When did this happen?” Twilight was in full panic mode. She teleported a first aid kit to her side and began nursing the cuts and scrapes she could she. Most had healed but it didn’t stop her from tending to them too.
“Twilight I’m fine. I swear. All I need is to rest. I’ll wash of the blood if that makes you feel better but I just want to go to bed please.” Spike felt something wet glide down his cheek. Tears had formed. What the hell am I crying for?
It didn’t take long for Twilight to notice.
“Spike what’s wrong?” She dropped the bandages and stepped in front of him.
“Nothing. Just want to go to b-bed.” Tears were coming along a bit more with every word. Spike clenched his fist. Fighting a battle with his tears that he was never going to win.
“Spike please talk to me. I’m only trying to help. What happened last night?”
“I don’t- don’t want to talk. I just want to-to sleep. I don’t want to be awake.” He walked over to his bed. His body was finally at its limit, as it stumbled the last couple feet to the bed.
Rushing over Twilight got under his arm giving him the support he needed to make it into the bed. Levitating the blankets onto her crying friend.
“Spike I don’t know what happened. but sleeping won’t make it go away. I know you want me to back off. But put yourself in my shoes. The last time I saw you, you were in the best mood possible, to have a date with your greatest love. You disappear for an entire night and when you do show up your covered in blood and have wings. And now your crying out of nowhere.”
Sitting on the side of the bed and leaning on his shoulder she spoke again.
“I can’t possibly ignore this. I know your older now. You’re a big dragon who can handle himself but I still see you as my baby dragon. If something’s wrong I want to know what.”
Spike looked at the wooded wall. He hated when Twilight was right, which was all the time. She deserve to get some explanation. Reaching over to the wall he started scratching it. A little distraction from the pain. Taking a deep breath and wiping his tears, he rolled over and rose up against his body’s wishes a place his head against Twilights chest.
She pulled him close and nuzzled him. “I’m here”.
“She” Spike started.
“Take your time.” Twilight said rubbing his back.
“Rarity stood me up for some stallion.” He finally let himself say it.
“What!? Are you sure? Maybe something just came up or something.”
“I wish. I waited there for hours. When I was packing up I saw her walking through the park with some rich stallion. Apparently he owns that fancy restaurant Refined Tastes. They walked right passed me and even kissed.” Spike wasn’t going to cry again. He was tired of the wet reminders crawling down his face.
Twilight said nothing. She simply continued rubbing his back.
“All this blood is from the wings” his wings twitched a bit. “They grew….exploded out my back last night. I just felt like getting away and they took me away. If that makes sense.”
“Plenty.” Twilight said pulling the blanket up more.
It was quiet for a while. Twilight was looking at the wall, thinking hard. She may have seemed calm but she was furious. Rarity was a very close friend but you never hurt a lions cub. Right now Spike needed her so she would stay but once he calmed down, She was going to have a little talk with Rarity.
“Twilight what do you do when your heart can’t seem to put itself back together?” Spike whispered into her chest.
“Give it time.” She said back.
“But just being here, in Ponyville……hurts. It hurts now. It’ll hurt later.”
“Spike stop. I know you heartbroken but all you can do is give it time. Time and laughter is always the best medicine. I’m not much of a comedian—“
“That’s for sure” Spike gave the faintest smile. A good sign. He’s hurt but he’s not broken.
“And if it is too hard to be here right now you can always spend some time at the castle. Princess Celestia always asks why you don’t visit a little more often. While your gone I’ll talk to Rarity and see what she has to say for herself”
Spike thought about it for a bit. After a minute or two of thinking he decided it was better then moping around here.
“Sure I guess.“
“Ok I’ll write a little letting her know. One sec.” A small poof was heard and a quill and paper was in front of the two. Spike moved from Twilight allowing her space to write. A few more seconds and Spike was sending the letter away in a brilliant emerald flame. A couple minutes later a burp was heard and a letter formed. Spike passed it to Twilight.
Dear Twilight Sparkle,
It’s been so long since I last seen Spike. Of course he is always welcomed to stay here wherever for whatever reason. This will never change. It pains mean to know Spike has experienced his first heartbreak, something I had hoped he would never had to feel the touch of heartbreak anytime soon. I agree that a break from Ponyvillemay just be what he needs.
It may also help with a problem that has a rose over here. Your friend Rainbow Dash has had quite the eventful night. It’s not my place to go into detail but Spike isn’t the only one feeling heartbreak for the first time. She is well but has decided to stay at the castle for a while. A familiar face from Ponyville might be a great help in her recovery. I have sent a chariot for Spike, it should arrive soon.
To my faithful student,
Twilight Sparkle
“So. What did she say?” Spike asked from the window he was staring out of.
“A chariot is on its way. You should take a shower before it gets here. Could help you relax a little.”
Spike scratched some blood off his scales.
“Not a bad idea.”
Twenty minutes later he was outside with Twilight and the girls. Pinkie pie was a ball of energy as always. She had balloons, confetti, and cake celebrating Spikes vacation. No one asked where it all came from. It was just a Pinkie pie moment. The rest of the girls just talked a bit until the gold and white chariot pulled by two gold clad Pegasus.
“Hello Miss Sparkle.” The gray Pegasus nodded to her.
“Hello sirs. Thank you for coming in such short notice.”
“No problem Miss Sparkle. When we heard it was Spike we were picking up we hopped to it quick as a flash. Last we saw him, he was a mere couple feet from the ground with more head than body.” The guard snickered.
“Real funny Aerial. Tell them about the time I melted your helmet to the ceiling in one of the guest rooms at the castle.” Spike said stepping into the chariot.
The Pegasus looked up. “It’s still there til this day.”
A few giggles escaped everypony.
“Ok Spike remember. Relax. Time is everything.” Twilight leaned into the chariot and gave the departing dragon a hug.
“I know. Just don’t do anything drastic while I’m gone. Please.”
“Of course” Twilight giggled.
After everyone said their goodbyes and the chariot was on its way Twilight turn to the girls.
“We’re going to Raritys.” Stepping over to the door to lock it.
“Ah’m always up to seein a friend but why all of a sudden.” Applejack said while adjusting her hat.
“Answers”
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He had woken up about an hour ago to discover he had casts and bandages on most of his body, which was in a world of pain. His face hurt and his hearing sounded muffled, like he was hearing the world through cotton. He tried to look around but was stopped by the cast around his neck and the pain paired with. He quickly gave up on looking around and just laid there. He could hear the muffled sounds of groaning and whimpering. He knew his team inside and out, even down to how they sound when they hurt. He could make out Rapidfire who sounded close by and Fleetfoot who was whispering to someone and quite a few of the other Wonderbolts talking among themselves.. He thought about saying something to let everypony know he was awake but had a feeling he should stay quiet for a bit. In all honesty Soarin felt like complete manure. Why? For the same reason he felt the need to be quiet.
Soarin had messed up, he knew this. The last things he could remember was doing some “endurance training” with Spitfire, Rainbow catching him in the act, a loud boom, colors and pressure on his face before seeing black. Putting two and two together wasn’t that hard. Rainbow had broken the light spectrum against his face. What confused him was the fact that a large part of his team was in the infirmary with him. What had happened after he was knocked out. As if on cue the door swung open and an offbeat set of footsteps could be heard walking in.
“Hey Lightning Streak.” Fleetfoot yelled across the room. “How’s your head and foreleg?”
“Hello Fleetfoot. Glad to see your full of energy. My head is feeling a lot better, I even stopped seeing colorful spots everywhere. As for my leg.” He paused. “I won’t be doing any shows for the next few weeks.”
“Wow she really laid a number on you. Ugh” Came a voice from Soarins’ right.
“Your one to talk Rapidfire. You were over the castle walls after that buck to the ribs she gave you.” giggled Fleetfoot.
“Yeah I heard they found you bent into a perfect V.” Lightning followed up.
Soarin smirked at the thought of his friend representing a letter with his body.”
“I won’t even try to say it didn’t hurt. Hell, she decimated half the team, reserves included. But I feel lucky compared to Soarin and Spitfire. I mean Soarins’ been out since last night and Spitfire looked like hell when she came to visit this morning. Looked like she had been chewed up by a timber wolf and spit out.”
Soarin was in shock. He was out for the entire night. Then to add insult to injury Spitfire sounded like she caught the worst of it. What did Rainbow do to them? No, better question, How much damage was she able to cause by herself? Yeah he knew she was athletic but to take out half the Wonderbolts was…..astounding to say the least. He had to know more. He had to know what took place after he was knocked out.
“What happened?” Soarin finally asked. He regretted it. It seemed like the whole room got quiet.
Rapidfire spoke first.
“So your finally awake? Sleep well?” the sound of annoyance in his voice.
Soarin paid it no mind.
“Lightning could you lift me up a little.”
There was a pause, then the sound of the offbeat hoofsteps again. From the corner of his eye he could see a blank expression on Lightning’s face. Lightning got to the bed and pressed a green button labeled up. A couple seconds later Soarin could see in front of him. With a slight turn of most of his body he could see a nice chunk of the room. It surprised him even more.
Fleetfoot had a her left foreleg in a sling. One of her ears had a bite mark and she had a few bruises. Lightnings head was bandaged and he was walking on his hind legs with the support of a crutch. His left foreleg was wrapped tightly and had little get well notes written on it. Rapidfire was wrapped up in bandages from the waist to his neck. His wings poking out from each side. Looking around everypony was in a cast or bandaged up in one way or another.
“How could she do this?” Soarin whispered.
“Let me stop you right there. Before you try to put Rainbow Dash on the spot this is entirely your fault.” Rapidfire said bluntly.
“My fault?!? I just woke up how is this my fault?” Soarin asked knowing the answer already.
“You know damn well what I’m talking about.”
“Last I checked I didn’t tell her to run through our team.”
“No but she had every right to. We were hiding a secret and on top of that it was a really messed up one at that. We took away her dreams and made her feel alienated. By the way we all did that. You did a little more.” Rapidfire ended this with flaring his wings.
“Rapid your doing it again.” Fleetfoot whispered. “Calm down.”
Rapidfire closed his wings and folded his forelegs. Things got quiet again.
A heavy sigh escaped Lightnings mouth.
“Fleet, why don’t you take Rapidfire out for a stroll in the garden. Hear they have some of the nicest roses in Canterlot.”
Fleetfoot was a bright mare and knew this was more a request then a suggestion. She climbed out of her bed and hobbled over to a wheelchair by Rapidfires bed. Rapidfire slowly slide to the edge of the bed and with Fleetfoot supporting him, he gently dropped into the chair. He looked at Fleetfoot and nodded and they were on their way.
“Dude. What a week!” Lighting said out loud, startling Soarin. “We started the week with stopping those freak storm clouds form hitting Phillydelphia. We did three charity events and to put the icing on the cake we had our regularly scheduled shows.” He folded his arms behind his head and fell back into a chair.
Soarin understood that Lightning was just trying to lighten the mood but he just wanted to know what happened.
“I remember her doing a Sonic Rainboom punch and knocking me out. What happened afterwards?” Soarin was looking at Lightning with pleading eyes.
Another sigh fell from his mouth.
“Your right. She did do a Sonic Rainboom and knocked your lights clean out. After you flew through the wall and into the castles walls, she went straight for Spitfire. She never slowed down. Spitfire was rammed through four walls and put thought a floor. She would have been in serious trouble if Celestia didn’t use her magic to mend all those broken bones. Yours too. Never seen anypony with so much rage. Scared the hell out of me. Made me glad to be under that piece of rubble.”
“Rubble? Wait what happened to the team? Why are you all here? “
“We tried to stop her from getting to Spitfire. My father used to tell me that an angry mare meant a broken stallion. Never thought it was literal. And besides, your ever stand mere feet from a Sonic Rainboom at set off? You don’t exactly walk that off.”
Soarin fiddled with the sheets for a bit. He looked at the ceiling.
“Why did she stop?” he asked
“Well not many ponies can resist Celestia’s sleep spell.”
“So Celestia stopped her.”
“Yeah. When Rainbow took Spitfire through those walls she flew passed Celestia by mere feet. She went after her and put her asleep before Rainbow made a move she regretted.
“Thank Celestia, literally.” Soarin whispered. A load was lifted off his shoulders.
“Well now that you’re all caught up I’m gonna say a few things the team and I have been thinking for the last few weeks.” Lightning placed a hoof gently on Soarins shoulder. “You’re an idiot. You’re an idiot and before I forget you’re an idiot.”
“What?”
“Wait I’m not done. You’re and idiot.” Lightning took his hoof off his shoulder and leaned back into his seat.
“Done?” Soarin asked.
“Yup” Lightning said with a goofy nod.
“I know I messed up.”
“Bad.”
“I should have stopped a while ago.”
“But you didn’t.”
“I hurt Rainbow more than anyone else involved in this.”
“You did.”
“STOP THAT!!!!”
“Was just saying.” Lightning started twirling his crutch.
“Look I was an idiot. What Spitfire and I did to her was horrible. We could have easily made her a Starter but we put her in the Reserves to hide our secret. We betrayed her and took away her dreams for our own selfish needs.” Soarin looked down. Thinking about what he had done was bad. Saying it out loud made him feel like the biggest idiot alive.
“Well you know what you did was wrong , but how are you going to fix it?” Lightning spun his crutch one more time and placed it back against his chair.
“Honestly, I don’t know.” Never looking up.
“Well think on it. You’re not going anywhere anytime soon so you have time. I have a meeting with a giant needle. See ya later.” With that Lightning was on his way. At the door he stopped.
“No matter what we’re Wonderbolts. We look out for each other. But we all agree this was one shit storm that could have and should have been avoided. Try not to let this happen okay. We will only follow you but so far.” He stepped out closing the door behind him.
Soarin was alone with his thoughts. Accompanied only by the beeps of the Iv. His mind was flooding with every emotion. Angry at himself for letting it get this far. Relived no one was hurt any more than they were. Worried about how Rainbow Dash was doing. The flood never stopped. Before he knew it he was drifting back to sleep. He was sure his dreams would be a nice escape from the reality he put himself in. He let himself slip into it’s doors.
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Celestia paced back and forth in her royal chambers. She looked down at the velvet carpet, her face straight with a tiny indication of worry on her brow. Every so often she’d glance at the letter on her desk then to the lump on her bed. It would move every now and then, a groan or sniffle escaping it. Celestia couldn’t help but feel for her and after a small inhale and exhale walked over to the bed, lifting a hoof and carefully placing it on the individual in her bed.
Speaking softly she whispered.
“Rainbow Dash, are you awake my little pony?”
Rainbow said nothing, only sniffling and pulling the silk sheets even tighter around her.
“You’ve been through a lot. More in one night then anypony should.”
Again silence and a shuffle.
It was a stake in Celestia’s heart to see one of the Elements and more importantly one of her beloved friends in such a state. But this wasn’t a time to let her emotions get the best of her. The Wonderbolts would hear from her later. Right now she needed to pick up Rainbow from this ditch she was in.
She stood up walking to her balcony. Looking out into the garden her lips parted. Celestia knew love well. You don’t live as long as she has without learning a thing or two. Or falling in love at least once. It was time to share what knew.
“Love is very much like running a kingdom. Like a kingdom, a lot of work is put into love. There’s building it, a lot of patience and compromise.” Celestia looked up to her sun. It was shining with her confidence. Bright and strong. She heard more shuffling behind her. In the reflection of the glass she could see Rainbow sitting up. Her mane a mess and bandages covering most of her head. She was staring at the sheets in her hooves. The fact that she sat up meant she was interested in what was being said or she just got tired of pretending to sleep.
“But the most important part of running a kingdom is trust. You have to be able to trust your citizens and your citizens have to be able to trust you. Without that trust there will be constant worry and doubt. And doubt tears anything apart.”
“If you’re saying I did something wrong then I think your forgetting who betrayed who your highness.” Rainbow finally spoke.
Celestia turned around and looked at Rainbow before walking over. A gold aura clocked a pitcher of water on the nightstand by the bed. Pouring a glass she floated the glass to Rainbow who took it in her hooves and took a sip.
“No I’m not saying you did anything wrong. In fact you were being the best marefriend you could be. From what I read in Twilight’s letters Soarin is all you talked about. You always waited and were always patient. Happy to see him even for the hour or two you got from him. You do your element proud. You also had enough respect to not go behind his back and fool around.
Rainbow just looked at the glass of water in her hooves.
“I must say. You’re the last pony I expected to see in this situation.” Celestia said with a gentle smile. “I always thought you weren’t interested in a relationship right now. That you were more focused on joining the Wonderbolts.”
Rainbow took another slow sip of water. Looking into the glass she saw her battered reflection staring back.
“I thought that’s what I wanted to. Love was the last thing on my mind. Then I got to know Soarin.” She placed the glass back on the nightstand. “ He made me feel special. Like I wasn’t just some flight obsessed tomboy.”
“He was the wind under your wing, The sun that lit your way, the skt that never let you go.” Celestia said with a knowing smile.
“Exactly. How’d you know?” Rainbow was surprised the Princess knew how to explain how she felt so well.
“A princess can fall in love too.” Celestia smiled a bit more.
It got quiet for a while. Rainbow was tired of laying down, so she pulled the sheets off of her and slid out of bed. She stretched her wings, then her forelegs followed by her hind legs. A creak here and a crack there and she felt everything relax. It was good being out of bed. She wanted to move a bit. Not fly, but just move. This was shocking to her cause there was never a time she didn’t want to fly. She let it go thinking it was just cause she wasn’t feeling her best. She trotted over to the bed where the Princess still was.
“Princess?” Rainbow said quietly.
“Yes Rainbow Dash?”
“Could we take a walk? Maybe talk about this later.”
“Of course. I had to meet somepony at the gates. Its somepony you know.” Celestia stepped of the bed and over to the door.
“I do?” Trying to think who it could be, Rainbow followed behind the Princess into the hall and down a flight of stairs. Along the way they talked about a lot of things ranging from the best flying techniques, to the castles history and more. Making it to the golden gates they both sat at the entrance, guards on either side of them. They didn’t have to wait long. The sound of hooves against stone came down the road. The gates opened with a creak and Celestia stepped forward to greet her guest.
“It’s been so long. You really should visit more.”
“Sorry. Twilight keeps me busy and it’s never easy getting around in Canterlot.”
Rainbow step closer to get a better look at this visitor. She heard his voice a lot, it just wasn’t clicking for her though.
He stepped off the chariot and Celestia stepped back.
“Spike!?”
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When you feel like there's nothing else you can do. When everything seems grim and you just can't seem to pick yourself up. Remember there's always someone who cares and with support you, and gudie you, There is never crashing too hard. There is only trying again.